What are Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts?As part of an employee’s benefits, employers sometimes make Flexible Spending Accounts or Health Savings Accounts available. In both instances, the primary function of the account is to pay for qualifying medical expenses while saving on taxes.

A Health Savings Account can be set up by any individual who is enrolled in an HSA-compatible insurance plan. These accounts are owned by individuals (not your employer), and money can be invested and roll over from one year to the next.

Addison’s disease is a disorder that occurs when your body makes and secretes insufficient amounts of hormones produced by your adrenal glands (two glands that sit on top of your kidneys that are made up of two parts: the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla). In Addison’s disease, your adrenal glands produce too little cortisol and inadequate levels of aldosterone.

Addison’s disease is also called adrenal insufficiency and can occur in every age group and both genders, and it’s estimated to affect between 110-144 in every one million people in developed countries.

Recently, a few of us here at Lauren’s Hope attended the Kids With Courage (KWC) Foundation’s One Inspired Evening Gala. This was our second time attending the annual event in support and celebration of this outstanding organization, which serves Kansas City-area children with Type 1 Diabetes and their families. The big standout this year, however, wasn’t the gorgeous venue or the incredible silent auction. It was a keynote speaker who blew the crowd away, sharing a carefully prepared, inspiring statement, from the heart, with no notes in front of him and the polished delivery of a seasoned speaker. But this wasn’t a noted Kansas City endocrinologist or a Type 1 parent. This speaker was Alden Davis: Type 1 Kid With Courage, age 6.

So, I'm turning 40 this year, and overall, I'm good with that. To me, 40 is an achievement. I've earned 40. It's a number I'll wear with pride.

I'm not thrilled that my night vision isn't the same as it used to be, and I'm more than a little annoyed at the adults who lied to me at 15 when they said acne was just a teenager thing. But overall, even the little health changes like these aren't a big issue. I'm almost 40, and it's pretty fabulous.

The one thing that does seem to be an actual problem, however, is my allergies. As a child, I had lots of allergies. My poor mom was a parent pre-EpiPens, so she learned to carry (and force me to take) Benadryl at the first sign of a reaction. She dutifully suffered through holding me down for the allergist's scratch tests. She dragged me to the pediatrician every. single. week. for my allergy shots. She dealt with it, and so did I. I'm pretty sure, looking back, that it was worse for her than it was for me, as I was no picnic when it came to doctors and shots. Side note: call Mom more often.

Although it’s small and housed in a pretty inconspicuous spot in the body, I know first-hand what the mighty thyroid does for the body. My sister was diagnosed with a thyroid nodule during the summer of 2011 and had a complete thyroidectomy in September 2011. Before her thyroid issues, I had no idea what the thyroid even did, where it was, or how it functioned. Needless to say, I quickly became well-versed in the workings of the thyroid when I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis around the same time.

December 31st is here already. Every year it seems like the time goes faster. I'm still thinking about needing to make that autumn dentist appointment, and here we are, looking at a brand new calendar. How did that happen?

When you call Lauren's Hope, there's a pretty good chance you'll speak with Christy Osborn, Customer Service Representative Extraordinaire and all-around awesome lady. So, who's the person behind the smiling voice on the phone? Here's the inside scoop on Christy, who's been a cheerful part of the LH team for almost two years.

Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) is a life-threatening disorder affecting 1 in every 2,000 - 3,000 people. This primarily hereditary condition is considered a, "pharmacogenetic disorder of the skeletal muscle." In layman's terms, having MH means you are susceptible to having an MH crisis. According to the Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States, "The general signs of the MH crisis include increased heart rate, greatly increased body metabolism, muscle rigidity and/or fever that may exceed 110 degrees F along with muscle breakdown, derangements of body chemicals and increased acide content in the blood. Severe complications can include cardiac arrest, brain damage, internal bleeding or failure of other body systems. Thus, death, primarily due to a secondary cardiovascular collapse, can result."

I've heard a bit about it in the news during the past few months. Long-beloved actor Robin Williams was diagnosed with it. Casey Kasem's family battled over his care while he had it. Lewy Body Dementia is the second most diagnosed form of Dementia, following Alzheimer's, but it's a disease not very many people know about or understand.

Superhero PendantsFor that child in your life who is obsessed with superheroes, we've got something s/he will love. You can choose between our Spidey Medical Alert Necklace, Super Medical Alert Necklace, or Captain Medical Alert Necklace, all of which feature a medical caduceus symbol on the front. Each necklace can be engraved with up to four lines with 15 characters per line. Your custom engraving goes on the back of the pendant to assure that it's discrete but available in the event it needs to be read.

Our superhero pendants are available on a 4" backpack/belt loop, an 18" child's ball chain, or a 24" adult ball chain. Pendants are a discrete and easy way to make sure the little superhero in your life stays safe.